Combination step block



Aug. 14, 1956 G. CADWALLADER COMBINATION STEP BLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 25, 1952 INVENTOR Gagner/26227' admi @Q22 @ab ATTO R N EY.

Aug. 14, 1956 G. CADWALLADER COMBINATION STEP BLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 23,. 1952 INVENTOR Gaza/w72 @la r cham/a Zadar ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O COMBINATION STEP BLO'CK Gouverneur Cadwallader, 'Solebury, Pa.

Application September 23, 1952, Serial No. 311,096

1 Claim. (Cl. 90-59) vibration, so changes the set-up relation as to cause inaccurate machining. Such endwise movement is ditlicult to notice until some damage occurs to the work piece.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved step block for machine shop set-up operations.

Another object is to provide a combination step block, packing block, and V-block.

Another object is to provide a step block wherein an associated clamp is rigidly held against displacement during a machining operation.

Another object is to provide a step block wherein a wide range of levels is possible, any one of which can be selected to match the height of a work piece for accurate machining.

A further object is to provide a step block for associai tion with a clamp for three point support, of which one point seats upon the block.

A still further object is to provide a step block having inclined treads respectively for coaction with an overlying hook-like end of a clamp.

A still further object is to provide a step block wherein means are incorporated for mounting the step block upon rollers.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l represents a side elevation of a combination step block embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 represents a plan of the same; Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the block as set up for holding a work piece by means of a clamp having a gripping jaw with which the step block of the invention is specifically shaped for association therewith; Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of a modified form of the invention; and Fig. 7 represents a front elevation of the block of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, the block is shown as generally of triangular form having two faces 10 and 11 at right angles but interconnected at an approximate forty-five degree angle by a plurality of steps formed respectively by treads 12 and risers 13 in the position of the block shown in Fig. 1, as supported by the face 10. It will be understood that the treads 12 become risers and the risers 13 become treads when the block is turned to seat upon the face 11. The present description will follow the position sho'wn in Fig. l. It will be observed that the face 10 is longer than'the face 11; illustratively, the former may be three inches and the latter two and one-half inches for selective heights according to which is used as the base face.

In the present instance there are five equally spaced ice steps formed by treads 12 and risers 13, of which the risers 13 are shorter than the treads 12, each by a predetermined equal amount, to thereby provide one series of supporting levels in one position of the block and a different series of supporting levels in the other position of the block. Thus, when the treads 12 are used as shown in Fig. l, the short risers 13 respectively deline vertical levels for accurate selective alinement with the top of a work piece 14 to be held by a horizontally disposed clamp 15. When the block is turned to seat upon the face 11, then the risers 13 become treads, so that a series' of higher levels are available for selective alinement with the top of the work piece. In this way very accurate adjustments can be made for precise level matching association with a work piece.

As a means for preventing the jaw of a cooperating clamp from riding off of a step tread due to vibration initiated by a tool operating upon the work piece, the treads 12 are each rearwardly inclined at angle preferably between two and five degrees to the horizontal so that the outer meeting edge of the tread with the riser of the next step is at a higher level than its inner meeting edge with the next adjacent riser. The same angular inclination is provided for the risers 13, which, when turned, become treads for the new position of the block. Thus, under both positions of the block the stepped treads form rearwardly inclined surfaces disposed to resist outward movement of the jaw of the clamp 15, when in operative position as shown in Fig. 4L The jaw 16 of the clamp 15 is formed by a concavity 17 in the bottom of the clamp which terminates in a transverse convex end 13 as the jaw proper. This jaw construction functions as a hook overlying the high edge of the tread to seat back of such edge at a lower level. It should be noted (see Fig. 5) that the convex jaw forms a one point support at the block to coact with a two point support at the work piece end of the clamp. Thus, a true three point support is provided and held in place by the T bolt 19 riding in the like slot of the work table 20. As so assembled, endwise displacement of the clamp 15 becomes impossible.

In order that the block of the invention can be used as a packing block, it has parallel sides 21 and 22 spaced to provide a given uniform thickness of selected dimension. Illustratively, the block may have a thickness of one inch. Also, it is preferable to provide a through opening 23 to reduce the weight without affecting its eliiciency.

For the purpose of using the block as a V-block, that is one capable of seating upon cylindrical rollers, one side thereof is provided with a V groove 24, extending, except where interrupted by the through opening 23, from one step to and across the face 10. Also, this same side is provided with a V groove 25 at right angles to the groove 24 and extending, except where interrupted by the through opening 23, from one step to and across the face 11. Thus, either groove can be used to seat upon a roller according to the result desired. Preferably one groove is of different width than the other for selective seating upon rollers of different diameters. As illustratively shown, the groove 24 is shown for a one-half inch roller, and the groove 25 for a three-eighths inch roller, but these dimensions are subject to variation, as will be understood.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 provision is made to take care of extra high work pieces and therefore the block is of enlongated rectangular shape with the same stepped formation at one end as heretofore described for Fig. 1 and which is designated by the same reference numbers for the treads and risers so that repetition seems unnecessary. In this form the block is illustratively four and one-half inches wide and eighteen inches long and has two transverse through alined openings 26 and 27 for lightness. The face 28 of the block is provided with two transverse V-grooves 29 and 30, the

former being interrupted by the hole 26, and the latter by 'the hle'27,` n'd the spacing being such as to seat the block upon cylindrical rollers in a'level position. Like- Wise, the opposite block face 31 is provided with two V-grooves 32 and 33, the former being interrupted by the h ole 2,6 and the latter'by 'the' hole 27,'nl the such 'as to seat the blockl upon"cylinu'calrolles in 'a level position.' Preferably the grooves 432 liare respectively out of'aline'rnent with the grooves 3Q, Itwill now be apparent 'that a complete 4n'nitar'y binatiori step blockv has been ldevised for work piece' set-up whereby a plurality of block positions can lbe selected according to the particnlaruse, and in each position 'function eice'ntly for tliat'use.- As a step block'it provides two sries "of steps 'diirejremly dismtfnsivqqsiftp furnish bluff rarity of sefiupfppginbns @thereby give accurate regel na'tching with'a work piece'. Thus, 'inone po v@of `the bien; on@ series of siens iirqvijd plurality of yisj for selection; ai'idi'n a vse'cbnd kpsitiori-providel a 'diierent plurality of levels for selection. f "'S'pCkug' 0r' wokspiwrting blk, the viniifprm thickness of the block,` when laid riponits side, forins a stable's'pport' for a workpiece withprper spacing he I atterfrornaworktable. 7

' As t V'fblocln'thje 'block also forms a spaingv support between a vwork piece'and a work fable, biit iii' this "rise the' v-gro'oveor zwei/'ies' im' @1361i a. @Meer sillfr. and.

thus support the work piece so that by releasing the clamp the block and work piece can be readily shifted to a new rnachiningposition. This is of considerable importance where heavy work pieces haye to be shifted while maintaining proper relation of associated parts. Also, the raised position of the work piece permits machining to the bottom of the work piece without interference with the v table.

Having-thus described my invention, I claim: A step block comprising a body in the form of a right f prism having two'prallelends right angular intersecting faces and a'third face joining said intersecting faces, one 0f Said irterseting. faes. wristitutius tim has@ of Said. bedr, saidihird face comprisingtreadsf one width and 'risers of second width formed step like, the intersection of said treads and risers forming an acute angle.

References Cited in the le of this patent 'fs, PATENTS. 

